In message <Pine.NEB.4.60.0503011021560.19661@dab.cs.stevens-tech.edu>, Yasir M
alik writes:
>Hello,
>I bought a Microsoft USB mouse for my laptop.  I ran xf86config to 
>configure the mouse with X.  In X the mouse works, but the touchpad also 
>works.  How can I disable the touchpad?  Also, the scroll wheel does not 
>work, although I can copy and paste with it, and the moving the mouse does 
>not turn off the screen saver, although the touchpad does.
>

Depending on what model laptop you have, there may be a BIOS setting to 
disable the touchpad.  I've done just that on my Thinkpad, but of 
course Thinkpads have the Trackpoint as an alternative, which may be 
why the option exists.

I have no idea why you can't wake up the screensaver with the USB 
mouse; on one of my desktops, I have a PS/2 and a USB mouse, and both 
work.  What does the mouse section of your XF86Config file look like?  
(Also, what version of X are you running?)  It should point to
/dev/wsmouse.

		--Prof. Steven M. Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb